Getting Admin Buy-In for Training

Sarah Houghton-JanAssistant Director, San Rafael Public LibraryLibrarianInBlack.net

The ProblemUneven staff skills

Why Invest in Staff Tech Training?

Show institutional commitment

to lifelong learning

Strengthen staff skills and

confidence

Save money Improve customer service

Increase staff retention rate

Increase efficiency and productivity

Motivate staff to keep learning

What does your staff need to know to do their jobs well?

Photo by Korean Resource Center: http://flickr.com/photos/krcla/1376627377/

HOW DO YOU GET ADMIN

TO APPROVE YOUR BRILLIANT PLAN?

YOU HAVE A BOSS WHO WANTS FAST AND FREE

CADRE OF COMMITTEES

ORGANIZATION RESISTANT TO CHANGE

YOU ARE NOT ALONE

START WITH EDUCATION

SPEAK THEIR LANGUAGE

FREE OPTIONS VS.EXPENSIVE CONSULTANTS

SHOW THAT RAPID PROTOTYPING WORKS

BUILD ALLIES AMONG OPPONENTS

RETAIN AUTHORITY *GENTLY*

START SMALL

BRING ITBRING IT

IT’S ALL ABOUT THE USERS

Benefits of a Skills Approach

- Equitable expectations for all staff

- Reveals training needs

- Accurate job descriptions

- Helps with performance evaluations

- Consistent customer service

- Helps staff adjust and handle change

Project PlanningBegin with a comprehensive plan, including:

- Goals

- Skill Lists

- Assessment

- Training

- Reassessment

- Evaluation

Planning Questions1) What are your goals?

2) Who manages the project?

3) Do you have or need to create a skills list?

4) Do you have a timeline in mind?

5) What are your resources (funding & staff)?

6) What training resources exist, and which ones need to be created?

Ensure Staff Buy-In- Listen: ask staff for their input and use it.

- Keep everyone informed.

- Reassure staff that they don’t have to know it all now.

- Managers must follow project plan.

- Hold a brainstorming session or party.

- Fun. Rewards. Food.

Watch out, Jon Snow!1) Verbal agreement is not enough – get

everything in writing

2) One person with power can kill a project

3) Not everyone believes that some staff still lack basic skills. Show them.

4) Not everyone believes that web-based training is valuable.

Tales from the Dark Side(a.k.a. how to sabotage staff training)

- - Don't equally apply expectations.

- - Allow only some supervisors to support staff learning.

- - Give staff no time for learning.

- - Be as blasé as possible.

- - Do not acknowledge success.

Ongoing Reassessment- - Annual or biannual reviews

- - Goal-setting for individuals and the library as a whole

- - Rewards for success

- - Consequences for failure

Measuring Your Success- Compare assessment and

reassessment

- Staff report confidence in their abilities

- Training evaluations

- Successful technology launches

- Better customer service experiences

Allen County Public Library's “Innovation Through Technology” Program: http://blog.acpl.lib.in.us/blog/?p=202

Photo by Helene Blowers: http://flickr.com/photos/hblowers/

1109669563/

Celebrate Successes!- Contests between units/locations

- Any group that improves 20% on the whole gets a catered lunch

- Individual rewards are crucial

- Award for most-improved individual & group

- Entire library celebrates

- Do something out of the ordinary

Have a gaming party!

Photo by Jenny Levine: http://flickr.com/photos/shifted/2113776727/

Staff trading cards!

Have cake!Photos by Homer Township Library: http://flickr.com/photos/homerlibrary/433104519/ and http://flickr.com/photos/homerlibrary/433102240/in/photostream/

ResourcesTechnology Training for Libraries by me

Accidental Technology Trainer by Stephanie Gerding

Training for Dummies by Elaine Biech

Accelerated Learning Handbook by Dave Meier

Questions?

Sarah Houghton-JanLibrarianInBlack.net

LibrarianInBlack@gmail.com

@TheLiB

Ask her anything. Really!